As fans are well aware, it’s been a decade since Cameron Diaz last appeared in a film, stepping away from the spotlight after starring in the 2014 musical Annie. Back in 2018, the Charlie’s Angels alum, now 52, decided to retire from acting, but now she is opening up about her decision to return to the silver screen.
As per The Hollywood Reporter, at the Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit earlier this week, Diaz shared that she had to “push” herself to un-retire after spending cherished moments with her family. Diaz has several new projects in the works, including a highly anticipated Netflix film titled Back in Action, where she will star alongside Jamie Foxx.
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Cameron Diaz Gets Candid About Returning To The Silver Screen At Fortune's Most Powerful Women Summit
The Knight and Day star acknowledged that she had the option to stay at home with her family indefinitely following the pandemic. However, with the encouragement of her husband, Benji Madden, she ultimately chose to return to her acting career. "It was just the right time for my family. After COVID, we were in the house for a long time, which was amazing and the problem was we would probably stay there, we would still be there right now," she explained.
The Mask actress went on: "People would be like, 'It’s over,' and I'd be like, 'No it’s not, it’s not over for me.'" Diaz continued: "So I had to push myself; my husband and I — my husband, who is the best — he was like, 'You’ve been supporting us and building the family' and supporting him in his businesses, he’s like, 'It’s time for us to support you and let Mommy ascend and do her thing.' He’s like, 'Let me see you do it girl.' I was like, 'Alright, here we go.'"
Having collaborated with actor Foxx, 56, on both 2014's Annie and the 1999 film Any Given Sunday, Diaz said she found it impossible to turn down her co-star's invitation to join him on Back In Action. Diaz stressed that she "couldn't say no" to Foxx. "He said, 'Come with me,' and I said, 'OK let’s do it,' it’s our third film together so it's really great," she shared.
The long-awaited Back in Action centers around two spy characters, Matt and Emily, played by Foxx and Diaz, respectively. After leaving their careers as CIA spies to focus on family life, they are suddenly thrust back into the realm of global espionage when their secret identities are exposed, according to the flick's logline. It'll be able to stream via Netflix on January 17, 2025. (Mark your calendars!)
Diaz is also poised to reprise her voice acting role as Princess Fiona in the forthcoming 2026 fifth installment of Shrek, where she will once again join forces with her co-stars, Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy. Furthermore, her fans have a lot to be excited about as she is set to co-star with Keanu Reeves in the upcoming y Apple TV+ comedy/ thriller Outcome, which is being directed by Jonah Hill.
During her hiatus, Diaz ventured into the wine industry, introducing her own line of natural wines called Avaline in 2020. The Bad Teacher star also recently welcomed her son Cardinal in March of this year. Along with Cardinal, Diaz and her husband Madden, 45, also share 4-year-old daughter, Raddix.
